Centre issues 7th draft to notify Western Ghats eco-sensitive zone

The Centre gave up on convincing the remaining states about demarcating the ecologically sensitive area (ESA) in Western Ghats by issuing the seventh draft notification proposing the designation of approximately 56,825 sq km land as sensitive zone.
The Western Ghats encompass six states - Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu - and is a significant geological feature lying next to the western coast of India and stretching over about 1,500 km.


The proposals regarding the establishment of ESA did not go unchallenged as several southern states raised their objections mainly due to the stance taken by Kerala which asserted that this prohibition would not allow the local people to carry out important activities for their livelihoods.


According to the environment ministry, which revealed the seventh draft in the gazette on Monday, the proposal will be "taken into consideration" for issuing the final notification of ESA on or after 60 days from the date of making copies of the gazette available to the public.


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The most recent draft has included provision for phased ESA notification, similar to the sixth draft. The idea is that it may lead to speeding up of the process as it will eliminate the requirement of all the six states coming on board for it at the same time.

The question of EZA has been raised since August 2011. It was when the central committee, led by environmentalist Madhav Gadgil, suggested the government declare the area as a no-go zone so as to protect the very sensitive ecological zone spread across six states.


The first draft of the notification was circulated in March 2014 but since then nothing has progressed on this front. In subsequent years, the ministry had come out with five drafts in 2015, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024 before the latest draft was published last Monday. A central committee has held several talks with the respective states but the issue remains unresolved till date.

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The draft recommends that there should be an establishment of the ESA covering an area of 20,668 sq km in Karnataka; 17,340 sq km in Maharashtra; slightly more than 9,993 sq km in Kerala; 6,914 sq km in Tamil Nadu; 1,461 sq km in Goa; and 449 sq km in Gujarat with restrictions imposed on some human actions within these territories. However, it makes it clear that the agricultural practice and plantations will not be affected by the provisions contained in the draft notification, and the “actual area” shall be finalized on the recommendations of the respective state.